Because writing is thinking, the organization of students' writing reflects both the structure of their thinking and the depth of their understanding. Students should be writing in all their classes, explaining what they know and how they know it. Thus, it's essential for content-area teachers to give students meaningful analytical writing assignments. Read An Introduction to Analytical Text Structures for more information and graphic organizers to help with writing instruction. L.11-12.3 Language Functions/Style

Writing enables students to process, organize, formulate, and extend their thinking about what they have been learning. In addition, teachers can also assign writing to help students evaluate what they know and understand about a topic. These writing-to-learn strategies help foster students' abilities to make predictions, build connections, raise questions, discover new ideas, and promote higher-level thinking.

Thematic pairings of novels/short stories with movies can help students access difficult texts and can lead to deeper comprehension and lively classroom discussion. This article suggests pairings for some commonly assigned middle and high school texts for several important themes.

Students need to learn the purposes and methods of narration in order to understand the narrative framework and to eliminate frustration when they read. When students know the narrative elements, they can more easily follow the story line and make successful predictions about what is to occur. In addition, understanding these elements develops higher-level thinking skills.

Effective vocabulary instruction begins with diverse opportunities for word learning: wide reading, high-quality oral language, word consciousness, explicit instruction of specific words, and independent word-learning strategies. This article explains how these opportunities can be created in the classroom.

In this lesson, students will use music as an impetus for stating and supporting opinions. They will compose an opinion poster based on a narrative about a train using percussion instruments. This will involve group work which can lead the students to write individual pieces in which they support their opinions using descriptive words.

Here's a lesson plan for students of any age! Children use Chinese scroll painting as inspiration to create their own version of this ancient art form. Provides resources and adaptations as well. You need to register to view the page, but registration is free.

This video segment from Wild TV takes a closer look at backyard bugs, their habitat and characteristics. [2:48]

In this video segment from Nature, researchers study pandas in an effort to halt their decline in population. [5:37]

This printable worksheet will aid students in printing the letters of the alphabet.

This lesson plan incorporates many subjects! Students create a flow chart after studying the "Evolution," of computers. Also provides adaptations and references to use. (To access this lesson plan, you must register with Crayola.com. Registration is free and takes only a few moments to complete.)

This site is a lesson plan that incorporates language arts, social studies, science, and art. After studying islands, and how they're formed, students create their own models using clay. Also provides resources and adaptations. (To access this lesson plan, you must register with Crayola.com. Registration is free and takes only a few moments to complete.)

This lesson plan incorporates art into a social studies or language arts class. Students create their own pictures, using the work of Harlem Renaissance artists as inspiration. Also provides resources and adaptations to try with this activity. (To access this lesson plan, you must register with Crayola.com. Registration is free and takes only a few moments to complete.)

Come and check out this awesome pre-reading resource. This site offers examples of simple word games you can play with kids to increase their ability to recognize and use letters and sounds. Try these games the next time you're in the car or on the go.

This lesson plan incorporates art, drama, social studies, and language arts. Students use recycled paper and boxes to create a castle, then use it as inspiration to write and act out their own play. (To access this lesson plan, you must register with Crayola.com. Registration is free and takes only a few moments to complete.)

Free monthly email newsletters featuring classic children's literature, new books, ideas and activities to use with students, and links to other Internet resources.

Carolyne DeGrammont of the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens, NY talks about why she enjoys horses in this video segment from Wild TV. [0:51]

In this video segment from WILD TV, learn about wild parrots that breed and nest in Brooklyn. [5:00]

A round up of wild horses proves too strenuous for a young colt in this video segment from Nature. Watch a video about this and follow up with discussion and writing prompts. [7:06]

In this video segment from Nature, Cloud, a two-year-old horse, interacts with his family in the wild. [3:23]